Victorville Speedway
Wheel2Wheel Raceway
Victorville, California

Budget Inn Winter Shoot Out
February 24, 2007 - Victorville
By: Ryan Evans

Former World Champion Billy "The Bullet" Hamill took home the main event victory in the Budget Inn Winter Shoot Out at Wheel2Wheel Raceway in Victorville.

Hamill had first gate choice and selected the outside starting position, but "Fast" Eddie Castro from gate three was the first to turn one. Hamill raced around the boards and passed Castro on the outside as they exited turn two and pulled away on the back straight. Castro tried to chase down the leader, but Hamill steadily lengthened his lead with each lap and ran away with the victory. Castro was second and Buck Blair edged Nate Perkins at the finish line for third.

The first of three rounds of heats began with Castro being penalized for touching the tapes. The penalty did little to deter him, however, as he easily weaved through the field and blazed around Ricky Wells on the second lap for the lead and the win. Hamill scorched the field in the next heat for his first win of the day. Perkins held off Blair to close out round one.

Round two began with Hamill racing away with his second straight win, this time over Castro. Blair took his first win in the next race. Perkins made it two in a row with a win over Michael Hull to finish the second round.

The final round began with Castro beating Perkins for his second win. Hamill jumped to the front in the next race, but widened his line with each lap and allowed Wells to remain close to him. In the final corner, Hamill went too deep and lifted coming off turn four. He was forced to shut off to avoid hitting Wells and the youngster snuck by for the win. Blair held off a very game Hull in the last heat.

Castro was an easy winner in the first semi with Blair following him into the main event by finishing second. Hamill disposed of his playful mood, put on his serious face, and blitzed the field for an easy win in the second semi while Perkins took the second transfer spot into the main.

Wells got the start in the Consolation, but Hull valiantly went to the outside to try to get the lead. Hull was able to edge ahead of Wells on several occasions but never enough to secure the lead for good. On the final lap Hull backed his bike in a little too much in turn one and lost his momentum and any chance of winning the race. Wells won the best battle of the day while Hull was second and Dale Facchini was third.

John Marquez jumped into the lead from the outside gate in the Second Division Main Event. Marquez put together four smooth laps and was first to the checkered flag. Bryan Buffington finished second, Blake Bowen was third, and Steve Bowen finished fourth.

Speedway newcomer Mike O'Neil won both his heats and was victorious in the Third Division Main Event in his first race meeting. Fred Remington was second, Billy Vaughn finished third, Mike Nutting was fourth, Joe Dillard finished fifth, and Scott York was credited with sixth.

Dylan Black jumped into the lead at the start of the Youth Main, but Russell Green fought through traffic to put the pressure on Black on the second lap. Green tried the outside several times, but couldn't get by. The final time down the back straight exploited an opening on the inside and stormed by as they entered turn three. Green held on for the win, Black was second, speedway debutante Danielle Diaz finished third in her first speedway meeting, and Kurtis Hamill was fourth.

Speedway enthusiasts won't have to wait as long for the action to return to Wheel2Wheel Raceway. On the race calendar next week is the Joker Machine High Desert Pairs Championship. The sprint heats begin at 3:00 p.m. and the speedway heats begin at 4:00 p.m.

RESULTS
 
Youth Main Event
 18 - Russell Green         10
  7 - Dylan Black            0
 86 - Danielle Diaz          0
104 - Kurtis Hamill          0
 
Third Division Main Event
243 - Mike O'Neil            0
152 - Fred Remington         0
181n - Billy J Vaughn        0
218 - Mike Nutting          10
714 - Joe Dillard            0
155 - Scott York            10
 
Second Division Last Chance
177 - Steve Bowen
 69 - Blake Bowen
288 - Rick Fritch
232 - Allen Doss            (non starter)
 
Second Division Main Event
241 - John Marquez
 77 - Bryan Buffington
 69 - Blake Bowen           (tape penalty)
177 - Steve Bowen
 
First Division Scoring         1  2  3    T
 13 - Nate Perkins             3  3  2    8
 14 - Eddie Castro             3  2  3    8
 19 - Dale Facchini            1  1  1    3
 39 - Buck Blair               2  3  3    8
 86 - Neil Facchini            0  2  1    3
 93 - J.T. Mabry               1  1  0    2
104 - Billy Hamill             3  3  2    8
142 - Ricky Wells              2  R  3    5
163 - Rohn Zellner             0  1  0    1
238 - Travis Henderson         1  0  1    2
320 - Michael Hull             2  2  2    6
 
Race Results
 7: Castro (tape penalty), Wells, Henderson, N.Facchini
 8: Hamill, Hull, D.Facchini, Zellner
 9: Perkins, Blair, Mabry
15: Hamill, Castro, Mabry Henderson
16: Blair, N.Facchini, Zellner
17: Perkins, Hull, D.Facchini, Wells (retired)
24: Castro, Perkins, D.Facchini, Mabry
25: Wells, Hamill, N.Facchini
26: Blair, Hull, Henderson, Zellner
Semi #1: Castro, Blair, Hull, N.Facchini (non starter)
Semi #2: Hamill, Perkins, Wells, D.Facchini
 
First Division Consolation
 93 - J.T. Mabry
238 - Travis Henderson
163 - Rohn Zellner
 
First Division Consolation
142 - Ricky Wells
320 - Michael Hull
 19 - Dale Facchini
 86 - Neil Facchini        (non starter)
 
Winter Shootout Main Event
104 - Billy Hamill
 14 - Eddie Castro
 39 - Buck Blair
 13 - Nate Perkins